It’s hard to believe that this is just a three-star hotel: with its incredible central location, this hotel is ideal for discovering Barcelona from top to bottom while the cosmopolitan design, rooftop pool and terrace, and attention to detail make it a great value option.
Hotel Jazz has a modern, design-led aesthetic, full of clean lines, innovative details and warm colours. From the spacious entrance to comfy sofas and stylish bookshelves in the common areas, and an extensive rooftop terrace with pool, this accommodation has much to offer. The bedrooms are light and practical, and include superior rooms on the upper floors as well as larger bedrooms that can accommodate two guests looking for a luxury space, three adults or families. During the summer season, when the pool is open, the terrace turns at night into a lounge-bar, the Jazz Cub, where you can linger over cocktails and tapas accompanied by wonderful views across the city and a unique light and sound show provided by the ‘Cubo’. If you’re looking to stay in shape while visiting, guests can enjoy free access to the nearby Duet Fit Universitat gym; and if you're a business traveller, you can take advantage of the on-site business centre.
Location: What can we say? You’re just minutes from Plaça Catalunya and La Rambla, as well as the buzzing neighbourhood of El Raval and the elegant Eixample. Shops, restaurants and landmarks are within walking distance, while public transport options abound to get you quickly around the city or even further afield.
Nearby:
Flax & Kale / Teresa Carles: These two eateries are both the work of the eponymous Teresa, a Catalan chef who has become renowned in Barcelona for her appetising healthy food. The Teresa Carles restaurant is vegetarian, while Flax and Kale is for flexitarians, meaning the majority of dishes are plant-based while there's also a selection made using oily fish.
Forn Mistral: Get a taste of delicious pastries and breads at this historical bakery. Its croissants and 'coques' (Catalan flatbread that comes in both savoury and sweet versions) are famous across the city and they produce a fine range of other baked goods. Either take away from the compact shops on Ronda Sant Antoni, or pop around the corner to the perennially popular café on Torres i Amat.
Fàbrica Moritz Barcelona: This local beer company was brought back to life a few years back and has become one of the most recognisable brands in the city. On Ronda Sant Antoni, on the site of its one-time factory, they’ve created an extensive space that includes a microbrewery, shop and restaurant, and is also the location for numerous activities including markets, concerts and festivals.
Laie CCCB: The CCCB is one of Barcelona’s leading art centres, hosting eclectic exhibitions along with talks, film screenings and more. It’s also home to an excellent store, run by the Laie group of bookshops, where you’ll find all manner of quirky, designer and original gifts and souvenirs.
Bar Kasparo: This is one of various bars and cafés located on the appealing Plaça Vicenç Martorell, a somewhat hidden square with a kids’ park and trees in the centre and that’s bordered by colonnades housing the terraces of the aforementioned eating and drinking spots. The Kasparo, which only has outdoor seating, is a particular favourite with tapas, sandwiches, salads plus more substantial options.
Good for: Travellers who appreciate the convenience of a city-centre location along with modern comforts and style.
Amenities: Free WiFi, Pool, Bar, Room service, Minibar, Laundry service.
Time Out tip: While the many pros of being so centrally located clearly outweigh most of the cons, at some point you may want a break from all that busy city life. A short walk from the hotel is the main building of Barcelona University, and inside there’s a beautiful garden, a verdant, calm place that could be the definition of an urban oasis. To get there, go through the big main doors of the university and head straight along the passageway towards the interior then go left to the cloister area, which gives onto the garden.